Israel grounds drone aircraft fleet after crash

By TIA GOLDENBERG, Associated Press
| 8:41 a.m.May 12, 2013

FILE - In this March 7, 2007 file photo The Israeli army's Heron unmanned drone aircraft for surveillance missions flies during a display at the Palmahim Air Force Base, Israel. Israel's military has grounded a fleet of long-distance surveillance drones after a malfunction occurred in one over the Mediterranean Sea. The military said it intentionally downed the unmanned aircraft over the sea late Saturday. It would not say how many aircraft were affected. The planes will remain grounded while
— AP

FILE - In this March 7, 2007 file photo The Israeli army's Heron unmanned drone aircraft for surveillance missions flies during a display at the Palmahim Air Force Base, Israel. Israel's military has grounded a fleet of long-distance surveillance drones after a malfunction occurred in one over the Mediterranean Sea. The military said it intentionally downed the unmanned aircraft over the sea late Saturday. It would not say how many aircraft were affected. The planes will remain grounded while
/ AP

FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 5, 2011 file photo an Israeli soldier walks past a Heron unmanned drone at the Israeli army air base in Palmahim, Israel. Israel's military has grounded a fleet of long-distance surveillance drones after a malfunction occurred in one over the Mediterranean Sea. The military said it intentionally downed the unmanned aircraft over the sea late Saturday. It would not say how many aircraft were affected. The planes will remain grounded while an investigation takes place. — AP

+Read Caption

FILE - In this Monday, Dec. 5, 2011 file photo an Israeli soldier walks past a Heron unmanned drone at the Israeli army air base in Palmahim, Israel. Israel's military has grounded a fleet of long-distance surveillance drones after a malfunction occurred in one over the Mediterranean Sea. The military said it intentionally downed the unmanned aircraft over the sea late Saturday. It would not say how many aircraft were affected. The planes will remain grounded while an investigation takes place.
/ AP

JERUSALEM 
Israel's military has grounded a fleet of high altitude surveillance drones after one was downed over the Mediterranean Sea.

The military says it intentionally crashed the unmanned aircraft late Saturday because of a malfunction.

The military would not say how many aircraft were grounded. The planes will stay down during an investigation.

An Israeli defense official said the drone was the Israeli-made Heron 1, which flies at high altitudes and can stay in the air for about 45 hours. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief reporters.

Last year, a larger Heron TP drone crashed on a routine flight.

Israel is a world leader in drone technology. Palestinians say Israel uses drones to fire missiles, but Israel does not confirm that.